Alessio De Paolis (Tenor) (Rome 1893 – Maspeth, Queens 1964)

He studied singing at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome uner Di Pietro. During the First World War he served in the Italian air force. He made his debut in 1919 in Bologna as Duke in ‘’Rigoletto’’. In 1921 he appeared for the first time at La Scala (beginning role: Fenton in G. Verdi’s ‘’Falstaff’’). Till 1932 he had a successful career as lyric tenor in Italy and Argentina. Together with Claudio Muzio he undertook a tour through Germany and Switzerland. At the Teatro Costanzi inRome he appeared in ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’ (1923), ‘’Cristoforo Colombo’’ (1923), ‘’La Bohème’’ (1924), ‘’Falstaff’’ (1924), ‘’Gianni Schicchi’’ (1925). At the Teatro Comunale in Florence he sang the role of Lindoro in G. Rossini’s ‘’Italiana in Algeri’’. He also appeared in following opera premieres: ‘’Basi e Bote’’ by Riccardo Pick-Magiagalli (Teatro Argentina di Roma, 1927), ‘’La Bisbetica domata’’ by M. Persicos (Teatro Reale di Roma, 1931) and ‘’La Favola d'Orfeo’’ by A. Casella (Teatro Goldoni di Venezia,  1932). Since 1933 he started to perform as comprimario first in Italy, then from 1938 up to his death at the Metropolitan Opera in New York (debuted in 1938 as Cassio in G. Verdi’s ‘’Otello’’). In 1933, 1936-1937 and 1945-1947 seasons as a guest he appeared at the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro and in the 1940-1956  seasons at the San Francisco Opera. He died from a car accident close to New York.

Chronology of some appearances

1921 Milano Teatro Alla Scala
1923 Roma Teatro Costanzi
1924 Roma Teatro Costanzi
1925 Roma Teatro Costanzi
1927 Roma Teatro Argentina
1931 Roma Teatro Reale

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